Glacier Kings announce new coach

The Comox Valley Glacier Kings will head into the new Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League season with a new head coach.

The Yetis have announced that Port Alberni native Joey Ewing will guide the team’s fortunes in 2013-14. The Glacier Kings said former head coach Bill Rothleiser, who led the Icemen to the North Division playoff championship in his first year behind the bench, gave his notice in February, citing personal reasons for his decision.

Born in 1983 in Alberni, Ewing’s junior hockey career started in the VIJHL with the Port Alberni Bandits. While playing junior hockey, he also juggled a professional wakeboard career.

The Glacier Kings note Ewing went on to play Junior A in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the Winkler Flyers and Southeast Blades, helping the Blades win their first-ever division championship. He finished his Junior A career with the Quesnel Millionaires in the BCHL.

Ewing then moved to Whistler, where he helped to turn around a struggling minor hockey program. During his first three seasons of coaching the Whistler Winterhawks Bantam Rep team, he led the squads to three Pacific Coast Amateur Hockey Association league titles and two provincial championship medals.

After three years coaching Bantam, Ewing joined the staff of the KIJHL’s Golden Rockets as an assistant coach. During his season in Golden, the Rockets ended a seven-year playoff drought.

After leaving the Rockets, Ewing returned to Whistler and coached the Winterhawks Midget Rep program to three league titles and two provincial championship berths in four years behind the bench.

Ewing has also directed his passion for coaching into private hockey lessons and skill development for aspiring junior and collegiate-level athletes. Ewing has also enjoyed working as a scout for colleges and teams in the BCHL.

“Joey is pleased to accept his appointment as head coach of the Comox Valley Glacier Kings for the 2013-2014 season and looks forward to returning to the VIJHL for his next challenge in hockey,” the Icemen said in a press release.